Arrogant Heir (The Heirs #2) - Michelle Heard Page 0,12

ass.”

Something snaps in my chest, and I lose the last of my control. Darting forward, I grab hold of her shoulder, and I force her to turn around. “Fine, you want the fucking truth?” I growl. I lean in closer and shout, “I’m fucking attracted to you. I know it will fuck up our friendship, but seeing as that ship sailed, I might as well fucking admit it.”

Mila’s lips part with surprise, and her eyes widen. She stares at me until I can’t take it anymore, then she whispers, “What did you just say?”

The rage I felt gives way to the realization of what I just admitted, and I close my eyes against the truth.

Fuck.

Chapter 6

MILA

It feels like someone dropped a nuclear missile on my heart.

I’m torn between the anger pulsing through me and the love I feel for Jase.

Why did I fall in love with the one guy that’s so far out of my damn reach, he might as well be in a different solar system.

And it hurts. So damn much.

For the last month, he’s been pushing me relentlessly with all the flirting and innuendos hidden in his words. Jase was the one who asked me to the welcome ball. He’s the one who danced the opening dance with me. He’s been dropping hints of us being together… and it’s all just too much.

I can’t handle the teasing when it’s the one thing I want with my whole heart. Not able to take it anymore, I know I’m a coward when I turn away from Jase and stalk to my closet. “I can’t do this anymore. I’ll move back home for the time being. Then you don’t have to be around my sensitive ass.”

Suddenly Jase grabs hold of me and spins me around. “Fine, you want the fucking truth?” he growls, leaning in so close, I can feel his breath burst over my face as he shouts, “I’m fucking attracted to you. I know it will fuck up our friendship, but seeing as that ship sailed, I might as well fucking admit it.”

What?

All I can do is stare at him as the shock of his words hits me like a tidal wave.

Jase is attracted to me?

His words revive my broken heart, where it lies in a bloody mess at my feet, and sends it rocketing back into my chest.

Not able to believe what Jase just admitted, I whisper, “What did you just say?”

The same shock I feel ripples over his features, and then his eyes drift shut. I hold my breath when it looks like regret furrows his brow.

Don’t give me hope, only to rip it away again.

Jase can’t be that cruel.

When he opens his eyes, his golden-brown irises look like liquid gold. His gaze darts away from me, only to flick right back. Confusion mars his attractive features, and it makes my heart sink again.

“I… I don’t know what I feel,” Jase stammers, which is so unlike Jase. He’s always sure of himself. If anything, he’s overconfident when it comes to everything in his life. To see him unsure – makes me feel anxious.

I take a step backward, needing to put some space between us. It feels like I’m being thrown from one emotion to the next. Futile hope keeps warring with the disheartening despair that nothing will ever come of my love for him.

I begin to shake my head. “You don’t get to do that to me, Jase. I can’t handle you being hot and cold with me. You’re torturing me.” I take another step back, trying to retreat from the final crack that rips my heart in two. I shut my eyes tightly, not wanting to see his reaction as I let the words tear their way out of me, “I’ve loved you since I was fifteen. You were supposed to pick me up after school so I could tell you, but you forgot. Seeing you with another girl that day made me realize how stupid I was.” I lower my head and opening my eyes, I stare at the floor. “Just when I think I can move on, you shove your way right back into my heart. How am I supposed to get over you when you keep dangling the damn carrot in front of my face?”

I gasp for air, filled with a weird combination of regret and relief for finally getting the secret off my chest.

I feel Jase move closer to me, and as I raise my eyes, his hands take hold of my